This is probably gonna get me flamed, but...

[prickly_pete]

When I first started playing I had a PeeWee T-40. I played right over the bridge pickup, which was basically the same thing as a ramp. After several years of that, I couldn't play any other bass. I have since broken that BAD habit. There are a bunch of great players that don't use "ramps."

 

[Steve Dude Barr]

There are a bunch of great players that don't use "ramps."

More than do I'd say...

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

...is there such a thing as a ramp for the Stingrays?

You can contact luthiers Pete Skjold or Rob Elrick and ask to have one custom made- you can also contact any number of small luthier shops or woodworkers to have them build one for you. As far as woodworking goes, they are fairly simplistic- the only part that is at all complex is making sure the radius of your ramp matches the radius of your fingerboard, which you'll want to make sure is done properly.

I understand the concept of the ramp, but I don't understand why you'd want to basically take away the ability to really dig in when warranted.

Most of the guys who use ramps tend to be jazz/fusion guys who don't dig in too much, but you still have all the space above your neck pickup and below your bridge pickup to dig in if you so choose. On a Stingray, there's not as much room, but still enough.

When I first started playing I had a PeeWee T-40. I played right over the bridge pickup, which was basically the same thing as a ramp. After several years of that, I couldn't play any other bass. I have since broken that BAD habit. There are a bunch of great players that don't use "ramps."

Playing over a flat pickup is actually quite different from playing over a radiused ramp. It's possible that guys like Matthew Garrison who have ramps on their signature models may have a bit of a harder time playing on a bass without one, but hey, they don't need to. Jeff Berlin would probably have a hard time playing one of Bill Dicken's seven-strings, but that doesn't make his sticking to fours a bad habit

There's tons more great players out there that don't use ramps than those that do, but that shouldn't take away from all the great ones that do use them (Gary Grangier, Dominique DiPiazza, Gary Willis, Tony Grey, Todd Johnson, Garrison, etc.) In particular, ramps aid the guys that use freestroke plucking techniques and lots of chording.

 

[prickly_pete]

Playing over a flat pickup is actually quite different from playing over a radiused ramp. It's possible that guys like Matthew Garrison who have ramps on their signature models may have a bit of a harder time playing on a bass without one, but hey, they don't need to. Jeff Berlin would probably have a hard time playing one of Bill Dicken's seven-strings, but that doesn't make his sticking to fours a bad habit .

I did not have any radius to the strings, so, I think it was very similar to a ramp. Also, I know that when I got used to the ramp effect, I couldn't play ANY bass that didn't have one; to me, that is bad.

 

[Moondog]

http://www.cmkpickguards.com/cmkmusicman.html

Maybe try a 1/4" pickguard ?

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Good suggestion, but he won't really be able to radius the pickguard. Also, most ramps are kept pretty close to the strings to facilitate the feel of a pickup under your fingers...often closer than that. Here's a shot of one of mine- you can see that the radius follows the radius of the fretboard and the strings, and that it's pretty close to the strings as well:

 

[Aussie Mark]

Couldn't find a piece of matching driftwood to make the ramp out of?

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Couldn't find a piece of matching driftwood to make the ramp out of?

This from a guy whose idea of a pretty bass is pink covered in giant sperm

 

[tkarter]

Look at the tension you can have when you not looking at a picture of a Bongo.

tk

 

[bovinehost]

This from a guy whose idea of a pretty bass is pink covered in giant sperm

He has a point, Mark.

 

[TSanders]

This from a guy whose idea of a pretty bass is pink covered in giant sperm

That made me fall out of my chair.

 

[Big Poppa]

He has a point, Mark.

also a keen sense of humor! good job BrYan

 

[SteveB]

This from a guy whose idea of a pretty bass is pink covered in giant sperm

That's nothing. You ought to see his shirt collection!

 

[Aussie Mark]

That's nothing. You ought to see his shirt collection!

 

[Aussie Mark]

This from a guy whose idea of a pretty bass is pink covered in giant sperm

Hey Bryan, from you I'll take that as a compliment .......

 

[Steve Dude Barr]

I see nothing wrong with Mark's shirts.

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

It looks like you bought out the entire Don Knotts wardrobe from Three's Company

Hey Bryan, from you I'll take that as a compliment .......

That wasn't my idea of a "pretty" bass...it was "I want to learn how to play bass and this is the only one I can afford." It lost its paint as soon as I bought my own orbital sander. You picked yours on purpose

 

[Steve Dude Barr]

It looks like you bought out the entire Don Knotts wardrobe from Three's Company

No way Mark's way too big to fit into Don Knott's shorts but I could. *snort*

 

[maddog]

No way Mark's way too big to fit into Don Knott's shorts but I could. *snort*

Yes. Yes you could.

 

[Steve Dude Barr]

Yes. Yes you could.

Well, I might have to get them taken in a bit...